Conference on building a resilient society

According to Standard and Poor: “Climate change is a global mega-trend for sovereign risk. While most sovereigns will feel the negative effects of climate change to some degree, we expect the poorest and lowest rated sovereigns will bear the brunt of the impact.”

In the World Economic Forum’s ”Global Risks 2014” climate change is one risk  categorized as global in nature and has the potential to cause significant negative impact across entire countries and industries.

The World Risk Report published by the United Nations University’s Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS), the German Alliance for Development Works (Alliance), and The Nature Conservancy, ranked the Philippines as the third most disaster prone country among 173 countries in the world, behind Vanuatu and Tonga.

Jean-Pascal van Ypersele, Vice-Chairman of the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), noted that the Philippines is greatly affected by rising sea levels around the world, and because of this, even stronger storms in the future could wreak more severe damage to the country. He stressed the need for the Philippines to take climate adaptation seriously in order to prepare itself for what are expected to be continuing major risks from climate change. “The Philippines can brace itself for the worst, but there’s no other way than to drastically change the way structures are built in the coastal areas. It’s to build a more resilient society, a more resilient infrastructure, an infrastructure made of housing, of buildings that resist better in extreme events with very high winds, very strong rain events. That is what is called adaptation to climate change and increasing the resilience,” van Ypersele said.

The proliferation of public and private sector initiatives and activities – shows that there is increased attention being given to building disaster and climate resilience in the Philippines. The private sector, in particular, has become increasingly involved in initiatives to make businesses more resilient to disasters and climate change and to contribute to national efforts to building a resilient society.

It is in this context that the Carlos P. Romulo Foundation for Peace and Development and the Zuellig Family Foundation, in cooperation with the Manila Observatory, AIG Philippines Insurance, Federal Phoenix Assurance and PLDT are launching a series of conferences/workshops over the next three years, beginning with a conference on July 10, 2014, to help build a more disaster- and climate-resilient Philippines.  Beyond better disaster preparation, risk reduction and adaptation, the conference will give particular attention to the transformative changes needed to build a resilient society.

Mr. Van Ypersele, has accepted our invitation to be the one of the main speakers. He will give an overview of the most recent report of the IPCC and its implications for the Philippines. Particular emphasis will be placed on the role of the private sector vis-à-vis the government. The conference is expected to conclude with a statement highlighting the urgency of building a resilient Philippines and proposing a set of actions to achieve it.

It should be emphasized that the conference organizers see their role as convenors for multi-stakeholder dialogue and a catalyst for bringing partners and parties together to act in concert on the basis of a shared approach to building a resilient society. Their aim is not to duplicate or take over the work being done by others in this field but to reinforce and add value to their efforts.

May I ask those organizations interested in participating on July 10 to email me at [email protected]. In turn we will send you a formal invitation.

Andrew Tan: Going beyond the comfort zone

The fact that Andrew Tan is third in the list of Filipino billionaires confirms his notable achievements in real estate development (Megaworld), food and beverage (both Emperador and McDonald’s) and in the field of integrated tourism (highlighted by Resorts World).  Beyond this, the reader can browse the internet and learn more of what is publicly available.

I first learned of this gentleman when he outbid the top real estate developers in the acquisition of prime property owned by Katuparan, the  IBM Philippines pension fund . It is my understanding that  many carped that he did not have the money to complete the transaction. But indeed he did and he also convinced IBM to relocate to his new development in Libis. But that was some 15 years ago.

Today, I write about Andrew because of his acquisition of a Spanish brandy and vineyards and the more recent acquisition of Whyte and Mackay, the Scottish spirits distiller. This company has a history of 160 years and ownership of Scottish brands, currently sold in more than 50 countries. Interestingly, just like the IBM transaction, he outbid all including the iconic Louis Vuitton. The all-cash offer was agreed at an enterprise value of 430 million pounds sterling.  But more than the money, I write in admiration because he had the guts to go beyond the traditional comfort zone of local businessmen investing only in the Philippines and Asia. His European acquisitions make him, in my opinion, one of two Filipinos who have dared to venture abroad solely on the basis of his own resources (the other is Ricky Razon of the highly successful ICTSI). He deserves our respect and congratulations even as I express the hope that others will follow suit.  With the exception of the airline industry, I find it difficult to understand why some of the largest  blue chip companies in Manila are reluctant to venture outside the Philippines and the traditional comfort zone.